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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810311 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 81-6 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S March 11- '1981 I. ROLL CALL President Richard Bishop called the meeting to order at 7 :32 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Daniel Wendin, Barbara Green, Nonette Hanko, and Richard Bishop. Harry Turner arrived at 7 :37 P.M. Member Absent: Edward Shelley. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Steven Sessions, Charlotte MacDonald, Iris Youngs, Del Woods, Stanley Norton, and Jean Fiddes. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. February 4 , 1981 Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of the minutes of February 4 , 1981. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. February 11, 1981 Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of the minutes of February 11, 1981. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: K. Duffy requested that her statement in the seventh paragraph on Page Four be changed to read "K. Duffy said that the Hidden Villa program is the kind the District should be encouraging, and said she felt the safety problem was a separate issue, less critical with this program than with general use of the property, " in order to more ac- curately reflect the statement she made at the meeting. K. Duffy requested that the words "relating to the ac- quisition of the Winship property" be placed after "memo- randum M-81-18" in item B of Old Business with Action Requested on Page Two in order to designate what the Board' s action concerned. N. Hanko and D. Wendin agreed to include K. Duffy' s revisions in their motion. N. Hanko asked if the minutes were correct in stating that the the Windmill Pasture Committee was to have reported back to the Board at the first meeting in March with their report. D. Wendin noted the minutes were correct and said he, N. Hanko, and H. Turner, had not yet met as a committee. The motion passed unanimously. III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS J. Fiddes stated the Board had received three written communications : 1) a letter dated February 26 , 1981 from Mrs. Marie McAuley, Secretary of The Cupertino Historical Society, Inc. requesting that the District maintain the Picchetti Ranch property as an historical park and working farm, as proposed by Mr. Rico and others; 2) an invitation dated March 10 , 1981 from the Los Altos Board of Realtors inviting District representatives to attend their Community Service Award Luncheon on April 22 , 1981; and 3) a letter dated March 11, 1981 from Mr. Joseph H. Walton, 21721 Columbus Avenue, Cupertino, expressing his concern regarding the prohibition of dogs on District preserves and requesting that Meeting 81-6 a Two the Board give serious consideration to an amendment to the present regulation. R. Bishop referrred Mr. Walton' s letter to the Dog Committee for consideration, and K. Duffy stated that she would be attending the April 28 meeting of The Cupertino Historical Society, Inc. to explain the District' s plans for the Picchetti area. B. Green stated she had received a letter from Congressman Paul N. McCloskey, Jr. regarding a meeting to be held on March 15 , 1981 to discuss off-shore drilling in the area. N. Hanko asked if any members of the Board knew who circulated the petition, included in the Board' s meeting materials , that was signed by residents of the Stevens Creek/Montebello Ridge area of Santa Clara County who believed the proposed restoration of the Picchetti Ranch property on Montebello Ridge was in- appropriate. R. Bishop stated he did not know who circulated the petition and would try to get more information about the petition at the Picchetti Winery Committee meeting to be held on March 18 , 1981. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA H. Grench requested that an introduction be added to Special Orders of the Day. There were no other changes to the agenda, which was adopted by Board consensus. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Joseph Walton addressed the Board on the concerns outlined in his written communication of March 11, 1981 and asked what the District' s amending process was relative to rule making and how he could assist the District in providing input on the subject of dogs being prohibited on District preserves. B. Green noted that when the Board had adopted the ordinance concerning dogs, the Board' s vote had not been unanimous. D. Wendin urged the Dog Committee to meet in public session during the next month or two to formulate and air the issues involved. VI. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY A. Introduction C. Britton introduced Iris Youngs, the District ' s new secretary for Land Acquisition and Public Communications. B. Resolution of Appreciation to Richard Hayden Motion: B. Green moved the adoption of Resolution 81-19 , a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Commending Former Assemblyman Richard Hayden for His Assistance to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the Environment of the State of California. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Green stated that s!ie and the General Manager would 'deliver the signed resolution to Mr. Hayden. VII . OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Backpack Camp at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-24 , dated March 5 , 1981? Meeting 81-6 Page Three noting, as a follow-up to discussions held at the meeting of February 11, 1981 on the proposed Monte Bello Open Space Preserve backpack camp, that it was staff' s intention for the use of campstoves to be permitted at the backpack area. He noted that staff would have to submit the backpack camp element of the development plan to Palo Alto's Architectural Review Board in order to receive a camp use permit. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board concur with staff 's recommendation to allow the use of campstoves by permit within the designated camping area located near Black Mountain on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: H. Turner asked if the District would be the recipient of the camp use permit and how long the permit would be in effect. S. Sessions responded the District would be the recipient and that he thought the permit would be issued without a time limit. D. Wendin stated he supported the motion as long as the Board was confirming an element of the plan as it currently existed. The motion passed unanimously. H. Grench reported to the Board that a letter from Frank Duveneck on the use of Windmill Pasture, which appeared in the May 15, 1974 issue of the Los Altos Town Crier and had been referred to in a previous written communication, was included in their packet of material for the meeting. B. Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Award- Monte Bello Open Space Preserve S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-25 , dated March 5, 1981, not- ing that the District had been awarded a $35,420 matching grant for the development of the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. He said the grant contracts needed to be signed and forwarded to the State by March 13, 1981 and that the grant contracts could be signed even though the development plan had not yet received final Board approval. D. Wendin asked what staff meant by "authorize staff to proceed with the approved elements of the plan" on the memorandum' s recom- mendation. H. Grench responded that the statement referred to actions the Board had previously authorized, specifically the engineering/ design of the parking area, the demolition of the cistern and old cabin structures, and the development of the backpack camp area. H. Turner asked for an update on the proposed parking lot in location"L" . D. Woods responded that David Hale, San Mateo County' s Planning Director, had informed District staff of certain requirements, and said the lot would not have to go through a formal site and design review with San Mateo County. He said a contractor had been hired to do a contour survey and a grading/parking and design plan which would be completed by April 1. He anticipated that staff would return to the Board at the first meeting in April to seek Board approval for the parking lot. S. Sessions noted that it would probably be mid-summer before the District could solicit bids for construction of the parking lot. Meeting 81-6 Page Four H. Grench noted that the District could execute the contract agree- ments at this time, and, at a future date, modify or even cancel the project and not accept the grant. He said, however, that cancellation of the project would put the District in a bad position with the State since the grant had requested funds for a vital project. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board authorize the General Mana- ger to execute the necessary Monte Bello Open Space Pre- serve development project agreements and authorize staff to proceed with the approved elements of the plan. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Wendin requested that the minutes of the meeting reflect that "the approved elements of the plan" referred to the demolition of the structures and the development of the backpack camp area. C. Acceptance of Existing Financing as a Condition of Title - Long Ridge Open Space Preserve (Smith Property) C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-81-28 , dated March 6 , 1981, re- garding the closing of escrow on the Smith property by taking sub- ject to the existing note and Deed of Trust for the property. He stated that the notes secured by the Deed of Trust had a principal balance of $7, 000, payable at 7% interest per annum. Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board ratify and confirm the acceptance of the existing note and Deed of Trust in the amount of $7, 000 at 7% interest per annum as a condition of title for the subject Smith property. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unani- mously. D. Acceptance of Existing Financing as a Condition of Title - Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Coplon Property) C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-81-30, dated March 6 , 1981, not- ing that staff had been unable to renegotiate any of the terms of the existing note and Deed of Trust for the Coplon property. He said the District could take title to the property subject to the existing note and Deed of Trust and that the remaining principal balance of the note was $392, 000, with an interest rate of 9. 50. He stated that $208 , 000 would be required to close escrow and re- quested that Claim #1948 to Title Insurance and Trust Co. be changed to $208, 000 on the Revised Claims C-81-5, dated March 11, 1981. Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board authorize staff to close escrow for the Coplon property subject to the existing note and First Deed of Trust in the amount of $392, 000 at 9. 5% per annum. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following vote: Ayes: D. Wendin, B. Green, K. Duffy, R. Bishop, N. Hanko Noes: None Abstain: H. Turner VIII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Coastal Conservancy Grant Application S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-26, dated March 4, 1981, noting that the District had been invited to submit a grant application to the Coastal Conservancy for funds to construct a bicycle/pedes- Meeting 81-6 Page Five trian path through the Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area which would be part of the Bayfront Trail system. He showed maps indicating the location of the proposed trail segment and noted this would be a joint project with the City of Mountain View since the City would be submitting a $150,000 grant application to the Coastal Conservancy for a two-mile pathway through Shoreline Park. He noted that District staff had proposed to prepare both appli- cations and said the proposed bridge across Stevens Creek would be similar to the one constructed at Rancho San Antonio County Park. H. Turner questioned the $4 ,200 allocated for first year operations and maintenance and asked how $250 would cover design costs. S. Sessions responded that first year maintenance, including pos- sible -repairs due to unknown soil conditions,as well as sign and fence repair could occur during the first year, and after the first year, the trail would require low maintenance. He said that the City of Mountain would be providing design work for the District. Mr. Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, asked if the trail provided for use by the handicapped, and S. Sessions responded that it did. Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 81-20, a Res- olution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the Application for California Coastal Conservation Funds - Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area Project and the authorization for the General Manager to enter into necessary grant contracts for the construction of a path and bridge through Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area. B. Green seconded the motion. Discussion: H. Grench recounted the steps leading to the submission of the grant applications to the Coastal Conservancy and commended District staff and Director Shelley for their roles in working with the City of Mountain View on this important project. N. Hanko recom- mended that a complimentary letter be sent to Mountain View officials expressing the Board' s delight in being able to work with the City on the project. The motion passed unanimously. B. California Parklands Act of 1980 - Skyline Recreation/Open Space Corridor - Hassler Project C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-81-27 , dated March 5 , 1981, re- garding the application to the State Department of Parks and Recreation for the funds allocated to the District from Santa Clara County (approximately $718 ,313) and San Mateo County ($62,704) as a result of the voter-approved California Parklands Act of 1980. He noted the District' s project proposed the purchase of open space lands within the Skyline Scenic Recreation Corridor and the purchase of the Hassler property. D. Wendin asked if the sites, which would be acquired using the bond act money, had been selected® C. Britton responded that specific sites had not been identified, but were contained within a 1000 foot band on either side of Skyline running between State highway 92 and 35. Meeting 81-6 Page Six Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 81-21, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the Application for 1980 State Grant Moneys (Skyline Recreation/Open Space Corridor - Hassler Project) . H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. IX. NEW BUSINESS WITH NO ACTION REQUESTED A. American Youth Hostels Presentation S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-23, dated March 3 , 1981, and introduced Mr. Bert Schwarzschild, Executive Director of American Youth Hostels, Inc. - Golden Gate Council. Mr. Schwarzschild made an informational report to the Board in order to provide background information for the April 11, 1981 Special Meeting with Golden Gate Council representatives. Mr. Schwarzschild distri- buted a packet of printed literature to the Board and staff, and his talk covered the history of hosteling, the concept of running a hostel, types of hostels , hostel funding, locations and history of hostels in the Bay Area and the Golden Gate Council ' s staffing organization. Libby Lucas and Jean Rusmore, members of the Board of Directors of the Golden Gate Council, were present at the meeting. Mr. Schwartzschild noted that the packet of material distributed to the Board included a letter, dated February 23, 1981, to the American Youth Hostel and District board members outlining the proposed format for the April 11 meeting. R. Bishop stated that he would not be able to attend the April 11 meeting and requested that another member of the Board be re- sponsible for working on the agenda for the meeting. D. Wendin stated he would assist in the preparation of the agenda. H. Turner and D. Wendin stated they would not be able to attend the entire workshop on April 11. X. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS H. Grench reported on two of the sessions he had attended at the recent California Park and Recreation Society Conference. K. Duffy noted that she had some questions on the permanency of dedicated open space and would present her questions in written form so that S. Norton could provide a written response. H. Grench stated that copies of legislation, SB 353 and SB 354 , introduced by the East Bay Regional Park District was included in the packet of meeting materials distributed to the Board and that S. Norton would be reviewing the legislation. S. Sessions reported that a fact-finding workshop to gather infor- mation for the initial Windy Hill use and management plan would be held at the District office on Monday, March 16, 1981, beginning at 7: 30 P.M. and that the Picchetti Winery Committee would be meeting at the District office on Wednesday, March 18 , 1981, be- ginning at 7 : 30 P.M. S. Sessions gave an update on the parking problem along St. Joseph Avenue, noting that a formal request had been submitted to Santa Clara County to paint red one-half of the curbing under the Inter- state 280 overpass. He said the fencing and signing at the en- trance to Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve was in the process of being completed. 0 CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF cu,c-4 ,2 5— APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March--18, 1981 Motion: B. Green moved the approval of the minutes of March 18, 1981. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: J. Fiddes stated the adjournment time for the meeting should be changed from 8 : 26 P.M. to 8 :26 A.M. The motion to approve. the minutes as corrected passed unanimously. B. March 25, 1981 D. Wendin requested that the second sentence of paragraph three on Page six be corrected to read: "He felt the provision of maps could be discussed under publicity and that camping areas and transportation were unique items that should be addressed individually as they came up for a site" . Meeting 81-6 Page Seven C. MacDonald distributed information regarding a photo to be taken of District Board and staff members on March 21, 1981 to celebrat- the acquisition of the District' s 10, 000th acre of open space. R. Bishop reported on the March 4 , 1981 meeting of the Picchetti Winery Committee, noting that the Committee was considering three excellent proposals, that local citizens living near the Picchetti area had indicated they did not want the area to be leased and wanted District funds to be used to improve and maintain the build- ings, and that N. Hanko and K. Duffy would be touring two winery operations run by proposers. K. Duffy reported that the Los Gatos Town Council had declined to enter into a joint project with the District to acquire the Machado property because of financial infeasibility. N. Hanko requested that staff follow-up on the invitation from the Los Altos Board of Realtors and report back to the Board in order to determine if a District representative should attend the luncheon. XI. CLAIMS Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of the Revised Claims C-81-5, dated March 11, 1981, subject to making Claim 1948 to Title Insurance and Trust Co. read $208 ,000. 00. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. XII. CLOSED SESSION The Board recessed to Closed Session at 9: 50 P.M. XIII. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11:25 P.M. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF ,� tljj P/_ 4, II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. February 25, 1981 Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of February 25, 1981. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. March 11, 1981 J. Fiddes stated the third paragraph under the California Parklands Act of 1980 - Skyline Recreation/Open Space Corridor - Hassler Project should be corrected to road "C. Britton responded that specific sites had notfbeen identified, but were contained within a 1000 foot band on either side of Skyline running between State highway 92 and 9." Motion: B. Green moved the approval of the corrected minutes of March 11, 1981. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously , with E. Shelley abstaining from the vote. 1